Bill > S2485

This bill amends existing Massachusetts law to protect disabled veterans during employment processes by establishing new restrictions on how employers can request military medical and personnel records. Specifically, the bill prohibits appointing authorities (employers) from requiring, requesting, or accepting an individual's military medical records or military personnel service records as part of the employment process, with one key exception: employers may request the DD-214 form, which is a standard military discharge document that provides basic service information. The bill allows the administrator of veterans' services to require a physician's certificate confirming that a disabled veteran is capable of performing job duties, and mandates that the commonwealth will cover the cost of any required medical examination. If an individual's DD-214 form indicates a discharge status other than honorable, employers may still request additional military service records. These protections apply to both civil and non-civil service municipalities' hiring authorities, effectively creating a statewide standard to prevent potential discrimination against veterans based on their medical or service records while still allowing employers to verify basic service information.

Budget and Finance, Military Affairs and Security

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2485